Improvement in dress-elevators



EMILY STEWART.

Dress-Eiemtors.

Patented Oct. 13,1874.

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TH! GRAPHIC CO. PHOYD-LlYH-BS Iifi-l PARK PLACEJLY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MRS. EMILY STEWART, ()F NEV YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN DRESS-ELEVATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 155,898, dated October13, 1874 application filed July 10, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Mrs. EMILY STEWART, of the city, county, and Stateof New York, have invented an Improved SkirtLifting Apparatus, of whichthe following is a specification:

This invention relates to devices for lifting the skirts of ladiesdresses while crossing Wet and dirty Walks, in which a belt is employed,which is provided with cords adapted to engage with the dress at one endwhile the other end is free, so that by drawing the free end the skirtwill be raised.

My invention consists of a belt or band, to which is attached a flap orshort skirt, said flap and belt being provided with a tube or tubes ofrubber or other flexible material.

These tubes are arranged so that the lower ends of them extend downwardtoward the bottom of the skirt. Through these tubes I run a cord ofsuitable material, the upper ends of which I extend to the front of thebelt, and upon the back ends of which I make loops. Upon the inner sideof the dressskirtI attach buttons at suitable places, upon which Ibutton the loops at the end of the cords.

I fasten this apparatus around the waist be neath the dress 5 or it maybe attached upon the inside of the dress, and fastened at the front asthe dress is fastened. The front ends of thecords are then carriedthrough a small aperture at the front, or some other part of the dress,and upon the outside, to which a button or some ornamental article maybe secured to prevent Withdrawal. When thus arranged, the use of it issimply to draw upon the cord in front when the dress-skirt is to beraised, and let it loose again when it is desired to have it fall, andthe weight of the dress immediately carries it down again to its fullextent.

If the dress is composed of light material the skirts may be weighted,if desired.

I usually put an elastic at the front end of the cord, for the purposeof returning it to its place when released.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents one of my skirt elevators notconnected with the dress. Fig. 2 shows an elevator as worn, and themanner in which the dress is attached.

Letter A is the band; B, the skirt or flap, C, the tubes through whichthe cords pass; (I d, the cords, with the loops 0 c at the ends. f f arebuttons, attached to the skirt, upon which loops 0 e are buttoned. g gare the apertures in the dress, through which the cords d d and elasticspass to the outside; h h, the buttons or bows at the end to take hold ofwhen used.

I am aware that skirt-lifters have been constructed of a waistband,provided with guidetubes for the cords for supporting the dress, andsuch I disclaim.

I claim As a new article of manufacture, a skirt lifter, consisting ofthe belt A, having the flap B and flexible tubes G, with the cords 61passing through said tubes, and having the loops 6 and free ends h, allbeing constructed substantially. as described, for the object specified.

EMILY STEWART.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. OoLLINs, JOHN W. RIPLEY.

